Vacuum cleaner floor mop



March 17, 1942. D. M. DOW

VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR MOP Filed May 26, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l lil Vat 8 Wm. WM W 0 March 17, 1942.

D. M. DOW

VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR MOP Filed May 26, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW m mUM W 0 March 17, 1942. D. M. DOW 2,276,943

VACUUM CLEANER FLOOR MOP Filed May 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 grwe/wto b DEWEY M. DOW

F/a/z Mar/M443 Patented Mar. 11, 1942 VACUUM CLEANER. FLOOR MOP Dewey M. Dow, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Air- Way Electric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 26, 1939, Serial No. 275,830 2 Claims. (01. 15-158) This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly relates to a bare floor or wall type dust mop adapted to be used in connection suction inlets of the brush and in which there isan individual suction inlet completely succeeded by a row or rows of brush bristles.

A still further object of the invention is to so arrange the suction inlets and brush bristle rows 7 on the brush such that the dust and dirt particles by reason of the brush construction will not be prevented from entering the suction inlet or will not pass the bristle rows and suction inlets, but will in either direction ofmovement of the'brush always positively urge the particles under the suction inlet.

Further objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains upon a reading of the specification which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred modifications thereof- It is to be distinctly understood 1 that the disclosures set forth are not to be taken as a limitation of the invention, but all variations,

modifications and alterations of structure coming within the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included herein and the invention is limited only by the-appended claims.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 shows a front elevational view of th floor mop assembly. Fig. 2 is a side elevational mop.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the floor mop taken substantially along the line 33 of Figs. 2 and 4Q Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the brush portion of the floor mop assembly.

Fig. 5 is a vertical elevational view of one of the suction inlet tubes.

Fig.6 is a top plan view of the suction inlet shown in Fig. 5.

Fig.7 is a front elevational viewof one of the hmodifications of the floor mop shown in Figs.

view of the floor Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the modification of Fig. 7.

Fig. .9 is a vertical elevational view thereof taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figs. 8 and 10.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the brush portion of the floor mop.

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of a further modification of the disclosure of Figs. l-4.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the modification of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken substantially along the line l3--l3 of Figs. 12 and 14.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the brush portion of the floor mop.

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of the suction inlet embodied in the modification of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the suction inlet of Fig. 11.

The subject matter of this invention constitutes an improvement over that shown and described in U. S. Patent 2,130,635 and in which the present inventor was one of the joint inventors and which is commonly owned by assignee hereof.

Thefioor mop I, which constitutesthe subject of the instant invention comprises essentially a two part separable construction whose length is considerably greater than its width. One of the two-parts of the floor mop is a nozzle 2, having an exhaust outlet 3 which is connectible to an appropriate source of suction by either a wand or hose construction (not shown) singly, or in combination, all of which is well known to the art. The other of the two part construction isa brush and suction inlet device 4, which is removably secured to the nozzle portion 2. H

The nozzle portion 2, has a mouth portion defined generally by lips or side wall portions 5 etc. which in the instant disclosure extend downwardly. Inserted in this aforesaid mouth portion and. on the front and rear longitudinal walls defining the mouth portion, are a set or pair of fiber agitators 6, one only of which is shown, similar to those described in U. S. Patent 1,980,438.-

These agitators are retained in position on the walls of the nozzle by a spring clip secured to thewalls of the nozzle by a plurality of holding means 1, which may be either rivets or screws.

The brush portion ofthe floor mop l, comprises a back or supporting structure 8, whose external dimensions are exactly that of the nozzle mouth such that the wall portions; 9, 9, 9, 9 of the brush coincide exactly with the wall portion defining to obviate the purchase of an entirely new brush.

The brush portion per se of the fioormop is arranged in apertures II. An individual brush tuft I6, is inserted in each aperture l5, and is held therein by a retaining element l'la, in the form of a wire that extends upward and overlays the top of wall portion l4, and is secured thereto.

effective during the forward movement of the brush and the remainder are effective during the reverse movement. The separability or detachability of the brush back from the nozzle is 9.0-

complished by the use of tensioned. attaching elements 2|. These elements are secured to the brush 4, by screws 22. Mounted on the end walls of the nozzle 2 are a pair of clips, or

brackets 23fsecured to the nozzle by screws 24, or other appropriate securing means. The spring element 2| has a shoulder portion 25 that fits over and above the upper part of clip or bracket 23. Clip, r bracket 23, is substantially U shaped and the spring element 2| fits within Each of the brush tufts I6 is set in a projection I1,'that extends an appreciable distance below the bottom of the brush back 4. This projection serves to stiffen the individual brush tufts in order to increase the cleaning efi'ectiveness thereof.

The brush back is provided with a plurality of suitable apertures H3, in which the suction inlets in are inserted and, as was previously indicated, th shoulder or fiange portion l3 of the inlets rests upon the top of wall l4. It is essential that means be provided to prevent the tipping or buckling of the inserts and to this end a plate 20, whichis suitably apertured as at l9, and in strict accordance with the spacing of apertures I8 in the brush back. Plate ,20 fits snugly within the space provided by the wall portions 9, 9, 9, 9 of brush back 4, and has extensions or projections 2la that fit firmly within, the upper end of the'insert thereby firmly holding the insert in a fixed position. Plate is appropriately embossed to receive fiange portion l3 of the suction inlets.

Attention is at this point invited to the arrangement of the brush tufts and the suction inlets. It will be observed that the suction inlets ID are spaced an appreciable distance apart. The brush tufts are arranged in asingle substantially continuous row that passes between the several suction inlets. The row of bristles is such that only one side or only one-half of the inlet is surrounded by a bristles leaving the other half or side free. The inlets in effect are set in pocket formations A, A, A etc., as indicated and shown. The row of tufts or bristles is composed of a plurality of semi-circular wave-like formations and acts to prevent the possible escape of dust and dirt through brush passages to posi tively urge such dust and dirt under the suction inlets. In other types of bristle arrangements, the bristles themselves actually prevent the suction inlet, or inlets, drawing the dust and dirt upwardly into them by causing the dirt to get caught in the bristles, or by simply passing in between bristle rows without being definitely kept underneath the suction inlet and thereby compelling its being picked up. Irrespective of the direction of movement of the mop of the instant invention over the surface being cleaned, no dirt in the path of the brush can escape being picked up, and by reason of its construction, its action is universal and reduces by one-half the time necessary for cleaning. The suction inlets concentrate the suction over a restricted area thereby assisting in speeding the removal of dust and dirt. The brushes serve to utilize the full length of mop assembly which, in combination with the concentrated application of the suction,

-incrases the cleaning effectiveness of the floor mop. Substantially one-half of the inlets are the U portion which, in cooperation with the shouldered portion thereof, retains the brush in engagement within the nozzle. When the brush back 4 is in engagement with the nozzle, the agitators 6, only one of which is shown, are in engag'ement with plate 20, which holds the inlets llLetc. in position. Spring 2| tensions the entire assembly such that a firm; rigid, unitary organization is provided.

It is desirable that some means be provided on the floor mop assembly whereby the possibility of damage to it and objects of furniture, interior trim, etc., within the home is obviated. To this end a preferably semi-circular section of rubber 26 is provided. Bumper 26 is disposed about the periphery of the nozzle and is preferably of the non-marking type of rubber.

Figs. 7-10 disclose a modification of the structure just described. Fig. 7 shows the front elevational view of the fioor mop generally indicated at 21. The fioor mop, as in the previous instance, comprises a nozzle portion 28, provided with an exhaust 29, to which a conventional hose and wand, or hose alone, may be attached, which is connected to a convenient source of suction. The other part of the floor mop is the brush portion 30, carrying the brush bristles and suction inlets all as hereinafter set forth.

The nozzle 28, has a downwardly opening mouth as shown, which is defined by walls 3|, 3| etc. Interiorly of the nozzle and secured to the forward and rearward longitudinally extended walls, a pair of fiber agitators 32 ,are arranged, one only of which is shown. These agitators are maintained in position on the aforesaid walls by a spring clip 33, which is secured thereto by means 35, which are preferably rivets but which may be screws, or any otherappropriate means.

The nozzle, which is considerably longer than it is wide, is provided at its respective ends with a bracket 36, which is secured to the nozzle by rivets 31. The bracket 36 is U shaped, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth. Surrounding the nozzle is a mar-proof bumper 33, which is substantially semi-circular in cross section and whose function is to absorb the knocks and blows imposed on thenozzle and thereby prevent damage to itself and to objects of furniture and the interior trim within the home.

The brush portion of the mop 30 comprises a wardly extending projection 44 in which brush tufts 45 are assembled in the manner described an agitator 6|, only one of which is shown, is

- mounted, which may be similar in construction and form to that described and shown in U. S.

zag manner and in which the ends of the transverse, or obliquely extending portions 46 of the row are joined at the ends by a short longitudinally extending portion 41. Attention is invited to the fact that the apertures 42, in which suction inlets 43 are inserted, are placed in proximity of the apices of the zig-zags. The apertures and inlets are not in a continuous or single row as shown, although it is entirely possible to effect such arrangement. The converging obliquely extending rows forma pocket 48 in which the oblique rows of tufts have the tendency to urge Patent 1,980,438. The agitators are held in position in the nozzle by means of a spring clip 62 secured to the walls of the nozzle by rivets or other appropriate securing means 63. Extending about the nozzle exteriorly thereof is a rubber mar-proof bumper 64, intended to absorb the dust particles entering the pocket 48 toward and underneath the opening of the suction inlet such that the particles will be carried away' by the air stream entering the pocket.

Within the opening formed by the .walls 40, 40 etc., of the brush back, a plate 49 is inserted which is apertured in such a manner as to conform to the inlet apertures 42. The plate 49 snugly fits within the aforesaid opening and holds the suction inlets 43 in position. To further facilitate the holding in position of the suction inlets and to prevent their tipping or buckling, the plate has projections 50 thereon which are apertured as at 5|. The projections 50 extend into the inlet 43 an appreciable distance to accomplish the aforesaid result. The plate 48 is embossed to re- I Mounted at the respective ends of the brushback are a pair of spring clips or retaining elements 52 secured to the back 30 by rivets or other securing means 53. The spring element 52 is shouldered as at 55, which shoulder engages the upper surface of U bracket 36. By this means plate 49 is firmly held in position by reason of the pressure applied thereagainst through the agitators 26 in the lip of nozzle pressing down on plate 49. a

The full width, of the brush is utilized in the above organization and by reason of the disposition of the row of tufts surface dust and dirt is positively urged underneath the suction inlet and no dust or dirt can possibly pass the row of tufts or bristles. As in Fig. 4, the suction inlets lie in the pockets 48 formed in the row of bristles, and dust must be urged underneath the opening and cannot possibly avoid doing so. It is not pushed away from the source of suction and since the latter is concentrated over a restricted area and the brush assists in urging the dust particles underneath the suction inlets, a maximum cleaning blows and shocks applied occasionally to the floor to articles of furniture and the interior trim within the home. A pair of U shaped bracket members 65 is applied to ends of the nozzle portion of the mop by screws 66, or other appropriate securing means. The function of the U shaped members will be hereinafter set forth.

Removably secured to the nozzle portion of the flor mop is a brush element 61 which has the same dimensions as the nozzle mouth. The brush element comprises a brush back 68 which has four upright walls 69, 69 etc., which correspond in shape to the nozzle walls 60, 60 etc. The brush back has a plurality of projections 1 0 integral therewith which extend obliquely across the brush back and in a zig zag fashion forming I thereby triangular shaped openings H. Fitted inappropriate apertures within the triangular shaped opening is a. triangular shaped suction inlet 12. This suction inlet 12 is preferably of a mar proof rubber construction and comprises abody member 13 having a flanged top 14.

The flange top 14 rests on the brush back poi tion .68 and is held in place by means hereinafter described. a

The brush proper of the brush portion comprises preferably a series of tufts 15 which are secured in apertures 16 in the manner described in connection with tufts l6 and as more particularly set forth in U. S. Patent 2,130,635. Other modes of assembling of the brushes may be em-.

ployed if desired.

The brush portion of the mop is held in assem- Fitted in the opening provided by the walls 69,

69 etc. and adapted to hold the suction inlets in position and to prevent their buckling, or colability is provided. The brush functions in either direction of motion thereby lessening the labor involved by at least one-half in cleaning any bination thereof may be attached, which is con nected to a convenient source of suction.

The nozzle comprises adownwardlyopening mouth defined generally by walls 60, etc. The nozzle mouth length is considerably greater than its width and on each of the longitudinal walls lapsing, is a retainer plate 79 having a plurality of apertures 80, which'are similar in shape to the apertures in inlets l2.

The plate I9 is provided with projection 8| which fits within the suction inlet to hold same in'place. Plate 19 as well as plates 49 and 20 are embossed to receive the flange portion I4 and I3 of the suction l2 and I0 inlets which, in

.connection with the projections'8l, 2| and 50, serve to maintain the suction inlets permanently 1n place and yet afford a single easy method of may be made continuous as indicated by the dotted lines 82, and if the brushtufts employed do not completely fill the space indicated by th dotted lines, an additional tuft may be inserted unbroken row of tufts.

The mop functions with equal facility during either a forward or a reverse stroke, .thereby redu'cing by one-half the time necessary to clean a given surface. Dirt and dust is urged by the bristles underneath the suction inlets and cannot possibly slip between or past the brushes by reason of the continuous row of tufts.

That which is considered new, novel and useful, and which it is desired to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A suction operated floor brush comprising an elongated brush back having a plurality of suction inlets arranged in a row extending longitudinally of the back, and bristle tufts projecting beyond the plane of the mouths of said inlets and mounted in said back in a' substantially continuous row forming a series of alternately oppositely facing semi-circular brush pockets each embracing one of said inlets, whereby said inlets are divided into two series, one disposed on one side and the other on the other side of said row of bristles, and whereby said bristles will sweep toward one series of inlets when the tool is moved in one direction and toward the'other series of inlets when the-tool-is moved in the opposite direction, said-suction inlets each having an opene area of which is smaller than that of the pocket in which it is disposed.

in that space to thereby definitely provide an fi m floor brush for use in connection with a nozzle having an elongated mouth, comprising an elongatedbrush back adapted to be removably secured to the nozzle over said mouth, a plurality of suction inlets in said brush back adapted to communicate with the nozzle and arranged in a row extending longitudinally of the back, and bristle tufts projecting beyond the plane of the mouths of said inlets and mounted in said back in a substantially continuous row forming a series of alternately oppositely facing brush pockets each embracing one of said inlets, whereby said inlets are divided into two series, one disposed on one side and the other on the other side of said row of bristles, and whereby said bristles will sweep toward one series of inlets when the tool is moved in one direction and toward the other series of inlets when the tool is moved in the opposite direction, said suction inlets each comprising a nozzle of yieldable material projecting beyond the face of the brush back to a plane near that of the tips of the bristles and each having a mouth area that is smaller than that of the pocket in which it is disposed.

DEWEY M. DOW. 

